WALLACE HOSPITAL

Southland Times, Issue 21656, 18 March 1932, Page 4

WALLACE HOSPITAL

MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD. DR. N. G. TROTTER RESIGNS. (From Our Correspondent.) The monthly meeting of the Wallace Hospital Board at Riverton yesterday was attended by Mr J. G. Johnston (chairman), Miss Hunt, Messrs J. C. Thomson, F. J. Dyer, J. Horrell, T. A. Buckingham, F. J. Linscott and J. H. Smith. Dr. N. G. Trotter wrote as follows: "I would like to retire from the position of medical superintendent of the hospital and trust you will relieve me in due course. It is my intention to go on in private practice. Hoping that in the future my long and varied experience both here and in British, American and. Canadian hospitals would still be at the service of the board. Thanking you all for the assistance and kindness you have extended to me during my long term of office of thirty-four years.” The chairman moved that as Dr. Trotter, their medical superintendent, wished to be relieved of his duties, the board accepts the resignation with deep regret, and that a suitable minute be drawn up referring to his long and faithful service as medical superintendent of the Wallace Hospital; and further, that his engagement be terminated on the appointment of his successor, and that from that date Dr. Trotter be granted three months’ leave on full pay, In speaking to the motion, the chairman said the board was thoroughly conversant with the fine services rendered by Dr. Trotter not only to the patients at the hospital, but to the many residents of Riverton and Western District during his 34 years of practice. When he commenced practice in Riverton the means of locomotion were different from present-day conditions, yet Dr. Trotter always fulfilled bis engagement no matter how bad the roads were, or how stormy the elements. He had proved a faithful practitioner to the board, notwithstanding a large number of private patients and the long distances he had to travel to assist those lying on a bed of illness.. Mr Dyer seconded the motion, and, in doing so, said, he had sat for about 25 years as a member of the Wallace Hospital Board. It had always been a pleasure to come in contact with Dr. Trotter, who was an optimist to the backbone, and who was always of a cheery description. As a medical man he was held in the highest esteem by a very large section of the community, and had been a very reliable official to the boasd. He (the speaker) referred to his skill and energy during the influenza epidemic, and concluded by stating that Dr. Trotter had been very considerate to the poorer members of the community, and had travelled long distances to alleviate suffering humanity, knowing that his monetary reward would be negligible. Mr Buckingham said he was also an old member of the board and he endorsed what had been said by the previous speakers. The town and district were under a debt of gratitude to Dr. Trotter, not only professionally, but socially. He had been a busy man with a large and scattered prao tice, yet he had never neglected the hospital or his patients, and had found time to associate himself with many organizations of the town, having for many years ably filled the mayoral chair. He. hoped the retiring superintendent would enjoy the best of health and that he would long continue to reside amongst them. The motion was carried. An ex-patient in Orepuki district forwarded fees owing by him, and expressed his delight at the kindness and consideration shown him whilst an inmate at the hospital. The monthly hospital returns were as follows: —Patients remaining from previous month, males 14, females 7, total 21; admitted during the month, 18—7 —25; total treated, 32 —14—46; patients discharged during month, 12 —7—1!); deaths, 22 4, patients remaining, 18—5—23.